All About CuttlefishBy: Ariana

About Cuttlefish:

One thing I need to address, is that a cuttlefish, is not a fish at all. It is a mollusk. The Cuttlefish is close relatives with the squid and the octopus. It shares many features with its kin. For example, (as mentioned before) the Cuttlefish have 8 arms and 2 tentacles. Sound familiar? It should, because that is the exact same as a squid!

Though this marine animal sounds like a cuddle-fish, it is anything but cuddly. The Cuttlefish is quite a defensive animal. It has many ways to find food, and protect itself from predators. This creature may sound like just another animal, but the Cuttlefish is very interesting, and ready to defend itself!

Picture of Cuttlefish

Diet:

Cuttlefish are carnivorous. They prey primarily on crustaceans, crabs, shrimp, and fish. Being part of the basic food chain, the Cuttlefish feeds on animals smaller than itself, and is eaten by those bigger than it. A cuttlefish snatches up its prey with 2 feeding tentacles, concealed under it's 8 arm. The cuttlefishes tentacles bring the food close to their beak, and they snatch it up. Their beak is made of horn, like a parrots beak, and the cuttlefish have a radula or rasp tongue belonging to the other mollusks as well. The beak can crack open Armor of other animals, because many cuttlefishes' favorite food are crustaceans, and they have hard exoskeletons protecting them.

What Cuttlefish Eat

Cuttlefish can be found on the sandy seafloor, and you will find Cuttlefish in saltwater

They prefer to live in warm, tropical areas. They are native to the Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic.

Also, cuttlefish will blend into their habitat by changing their color! This is used as a way of defense against predators.